Apparatus for storing and distributing inflammable liquids.



'J. P. ROLLAND & P. A. P. MAUGLERE. APPARATUS FOR STORING- ANDDISTRIBUTING INFLAMMABLE LIQUIDS.

' APPLICATION FILED 170118, 1912.

Patented May 19, 1914.

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.T. I. ROLLAND & P. A. P. MAUCLERE. APPARATUS FOR STORING ANDDISTRIBUTING INFLAMMABLE LIQUIDS. APPLICATION FILED NOV. 18, 1912.

1 097.4%?(3. Patented May 19, 1914.

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g f A v '4 I" P Q 7":: fl/1 {I}: =1 {e a 1/ i a 0 i H v a J c Lq-g dWifizwaw: jriwnflm' J Wd/ M lti 'llti JEAN rnANcoIs ROLLAND AND PIERREANDRE PAUL MAUCLERE,

OF PARIS, FRANCE.

APPARATUS FOR STORING AND DISTRIBUTING IN FLAMM/AIBLE LIQUIDS.

Specification of Letters Patent.

Patented May 19, 1 914.

Application filed November 18, 1912. Serial N 0. 732,180.

To all whom it may come? n Be it known that we, JEAN FRANgoIs Ron- LANDand PIERRE Annmi PAUL MAUoLiiRp, citizens of the Republic of France,residing in Paris, France, have invented certain new and usefulImprovements in Apparatus for Storing and Distributing inflammableLiquids, of which the following is a specification.

This invention consists of a method and apparatus for effecting thestoring, manipulation and distribution of hydrocarbon and other liquidsout of contact with the air.

The invention, which is particularly suitable for dealing withhydrocarbon liquids, allows of attaining a high degree of safety in thekeeping and manipulation of these inflammable liquids.

' According to this invention, the liquid is stored in a reservoir,preferably underground, where it is in contact with an inert and neutralgas, such as nitrogen or carbonic acid gas, the introduction of theliquid into said reservoir and its withdrawal therefrom being effectedout of contact with the air under a layer of inert gas which is retainedin the installation.

A characteristic point of the invention is that the pressure in' theliquid reservoir remains always equal to the atmospheric pressure. Theresult is that there can be no entrance of air, as could occur if thepressure in the reservoir were able at any time to become less than thatof the atmosphere; nor accidentalescape or discharge of the liquidstored in the reservoir, as could happen if the pressure in theapparatus during rest could become greater than that of the atmospherelThe atmospheric pressure is thus maintained in the liquid reservoir whenneither filling nor drawing ofi' is taking place,'a slight suction orvacuum being created in-the reservoir during filling, while on the otherhand a slightly increased pressure is exerted on the surface ofthe-liquid in the reservoir for withdrawing liquid therefrom.

The following description will allow of readily understanding thecombination of means which thus permits of maintaining absolutely andpermanently the atmospheric pressure on the liquid when filling orwithdrawing of liquid isnot taking place. Two switches serve forautomatically starting and stopping when necessary, a motor whichactuates a gas compressor, and this by the simple operation ofvalvesprovided on the o, (inwhich is likewise fitted a liquid reservoirI or reservoirs. Moreover, there is provided on the filling pipe of thereservoir or reservoirs an apparatus which prevents any appreciableentrance of air at the end of an emptying operation.

Figure 1 of the drawings is a diagram of an installation embodying theinvention. Fig. 2"shows a detail of the switching apparatus. Fig. 3 is adetail sectional View of an apparatus for preventing entrance of airinto the main reservoir or reservoirs when an external supply reservoirsuch as a tank car is emptied completely.

The installation illustrated comprises a main storage reservoir A forliquid preferably-placed underground, a reservoir B of much smaller sizefor receiving compressed inert gas, and a pump C for transferring inertgas from the main storage reservoir A to the gas reservoir B. The pumpmay be operated in various ways, by hand or mechanically, but preferablyby means of an electric motor indicated at M. A system of pipes orconnections is provided between the two reservoirsA and B and the pumpas follows: A pipe a leads from the pump G into the vessel B; from thevessel B another pipe I) (in which are fitted a pressure gage m and apressure reducing or expansion device 770 extends into the .reservoir A.A pipe pressure gage m) leads from reservoir A to the pump C and formsthe suction pipe of the pump. A pipe (Z leads from'the reservoir A and apipe d leads from the gas reservoir B to a switching device D D in theform of a cutin and cut-out device, the function of which is to startautomatically the electric motor which operates the pump C.

c is a. pipe which connects the lower part of the gas reservoir B withthe interior of the reservoir A, extending almost to the bottom of thelatter reservoir. A pipe f serves for filling the reservoir A, and apipe 9 serves for filling the apparatus or external vessels intended fortransporting, vending, or using the liquid. Finally a float gage orlevel indicator 71 serves to show the height of the liquid contained inthe reservo r A.

Y The manner of storing liqnii in the reservoir and of withdrawing sametherefrom is as follows: An inert gas is introduced into the mainreservoir under such a pressure that if liquid were in the reservoir itwould be forced up to a sutficient height to issue from the deliveryorifice, as, for instance,

the end of pipe g. The gas in the reservoir A is brought to atmosphericpressure. This operation takes place automatically, the electric motor Mstarting and. continuing to run as long as the pressure in the reservoirA is greater than that of the atmosphere. This result is obtained bymeans of the cut-in and cut-out apparatus shown separately in detail inFig. 2 and which will now be described.

One of the cut-in and cut-out devices comprises a cylinder D containinga piston i having an insulated rod j connected thereto and having ametallic portion 1' theren adapted to close and open the motor circuitat 72 (Fig. 2). A very weak coiled spring 2 is fitted between the piston2' and the inner end of the cylinder D. The other cylinder D likewisecontains a piston Z, having an insulated rod 7' connected thereto. Ametallic portion j opens and closes the motor circuit at is. Aspring 2is fitted between the piston z" and the outer end of the cylinden Thesprings z and 2 operate on opposite sides of their respective pistons,so that one spring presses its piston in one direction and the otherspring presses its piston in an opposite direction. While the tension of;the spring a is very slight, that of the spring a is sufficientlystrong for the piston a" to be pushed forward thereby and the pressureof the gas in the reservoir A when the pres sure is less than 1 kg. andmore than Iabout 0.8 kg. By screwing the ends of the cylinders D, Dfarther in or out, the tension of the springs can be adjusted to securethe operation of the cut-in and cut-out devices in the manner described.

It was above explained that the pressure in thereservoir A was greaterthan that of the atmosphere and that it was necessary to allow the sameto fall to atmos pheric pressure. This takes place automatically as soonas the electric circuit is closed. The pressure in the reservoir A, whengreater than that of the atmosphere, acts through the piping d, (Z and(Z9 upon the piston z' of cylinder D, forces the piston forward, andcloses the motor circuit at it. The electric motor starts, and the'pump0 draws the gasvfrom the reservoir A and forces it into the smallreservoir B. As soon as the pressure in the storage reservoir A hasfallen so far that it is only very little greater than atmosphericpressure, the 5 piston 'i' of the cut-in and cut-out cylinder D movesback under the actionof its weak spring a and the electric circuit isbroken at it; the motor and the pump at once stop, leaving in thereservoir A a pressure equal 'to that of the atmosphere. It is in thiscondition that the reservoir A is when it is empty, or when it containsa certain quantity of liquid, and there is no manipu- M will immediatelycome into action and p the pump will draw gas and thus remove themomentary excess of pressure. The reservoir .A being assumed as in thecondition above described, the method of delivering liquid into thereservoir for storing, and also the method of drawing liquid therefromwill now be described' I In order to store the liquid, delivered forexample from a tank car E, gas under pressure is admitted from theaccumulator B through pipes d, d to the rear of the piston 71 of thecut-in and cut-out device D, by means of the three-way cock 9. Thepiston i of the cut-in and cut-out device D moves forward under thepressure of the gas in the reservoir B; the motor circuit is.

closed at 7: and the electric motor starts running; the pump is operatedand produces a partial vacuum in the reservoir A, the effect of which isto rapidly prime and start the siphon formed by the pipe f and a rigidpipe or leg R. The tankear is thus emptied by siphon action, the pump Ccontinuing to draw the gas; from the storage reservoir to make room forthe liquid and compressing this gas in the high pressure reservoir B. p4

If the suction exerted by the compressor were such as to be liable tocreate a dangerous degree of vacuum in thereservoir, and

in particular to reduce the pressurebelow 0.8 kg. for example, thepiston i of the cut-in and cut-out device D would be forced toward theend of the cylinder by the atmospheric pressure, and the circuit wouldbe broken. 9

It is desirable that no introduction of air into the main reservoirshall take place when all the liquid from the tank car E has beenwithdrawn through the leg R of the siphon. For this purpose, there isarranged at the upper part of the latter, an apparatps adapted to closethe suction or siphon pipe automatically at the end of the emptyingoperation. This apparatus is shown separately in section in Fig. 3 andcomprises a:

cylinder H disposed between the siphon leg R and the pipe 7. Thiscylinder contains a float I of thin metal, guided between lugs 4;; theposition of the float I is indicated by a pointer w, the point of whichis visible through a glass-window y. O n the upper valve'J upon itsseat.

, small quantity 4 5 siphon position of the pointer a extremity of thesiphon leg R is arranged a valve J held on its seat by a spring bearingat its other end against the underside of the lugs o. A lever beoperated by a small lever'O fitted on the pivot of K outside thecylinder, acts on the valve J below part of the cylinder by a valve Nheld on The Valve N may be P having an operating handwheel Q mounted onits spindle.

When it is required to empty the tank car E into the reservoir A asbefore described, by first makinga partial vacuumin the said reservoir,the operator operates at. the same time the handwheel- Q to compress thespring N and open the valve N, and also the finger O to compress thespring J" and open the valve J. As soon as the liquid rises in thesiphon. leg R by reason of the priming of the siphon, the float I israised by the liquid, as can .be seen.through the observation window 1,the pointer 00 being then at the top of its travel. The lever O can beat once released, andthe float T will remain upheld by the current ofliquid, the spring J which is very weak, being insufficient to hold theBut it is desirable not to'release the handwheel Q during the entireemptying operation. When all the liquid from the reservoir E has beensiphoned out, down to the bottom of the leg R, air will enter the vesselH, and

float I is no longer kept raised by liquid it will immediately fall byits own Weight, as can be seen by observing the new The hand-wheel Qshould then be-released to enable the spring N to elpse the valve N,while the lower valve J is closed by its own weight andunder the actionof the weak spring J. In this way it is only possible for the very ofair that may be in the apparatus H at the commencement of the operation,to enter the reservoir A. On the completion of an operation of fillingthe reservoir as above ezqo'lained, atmospheric pressure .isreestablished in the reservoir A by introducing "as from the highpressure reservoir B,-;lan the pressure of the" inert gas in thereservoir A will be kept exactly equal to the atmospheric pressure, asbefore H the pipe f is closed its seat by a spring N.

as the explained.

Supposing now that it is required to-draw ofl liquid from the reservoirA, compressed gas is admittedfrom reservoirB by way of pipe 2:, theeylindersD, D of the cut-in and cut'out a paratus'being put out'ofoperation by reaking the electric circuit that supplies the motor. The"draw-oft pipe 9,

A on which may be disposed a meter 7), extends down to the bottom of thereservoir A and leads to a vessel F of any kind for receiving the liquiddrawn as. The compressed gas K, adapted to the spring. At the upperacted upon by a lever supplied by the high pressure reservoir 13 foracting on the liquid in reservoir A, passes through a pressure reducingand indicating device. The drawing oil of the liquid can be effected ata greater or less speed as desired by the operator, according to thepressure of the gas in the said pres-- sure reducing device. After therequired quantity of liquid has been drawn off, atmospheric pressure isagain reestablished in the main reservoir by switching on the electriccurrent so as to permit of the operation of the motor under the controlof the cut-in and cut-out device 1), thus maintaining the pressure in Aat the phere.

The reservoir A is provided with any suitable measuring or gage devices,and preferably with a float gage the chain It of which passes over adial which will indicate at any moment the quantity of liquid containedin the reservoir. Fusible plugs capable of melting in case of anabnormal rise in tcn'iperature may be employed to obviate the occurrenceof any overpressure inside the reservoirs.

The inert neutral gas in the installation' always remains the same; nolosses can occur other than those that may result by leakage through thepump or in consequence of the gas becoming dissolved in the liquid. Theloss of inert gas by dissolution in the liquid at the atmosphericpressure is compensated by the introduction of a corresponding quantityof this gas from the compressed gas reservoir B. The reservoir B isreplenished through a pipe T from gas bottles G containing gas at veryhigh pressure.

I In the main reservoir A the inert gas becomes saturated-with vapors ofthe liquid at the tension of said vapor at the ambient temperature; Bycompressing the saturated gas, the greater portion of this liquid isrecovered and condenses in the reservoir B, from which it can bereturned into the reservoir A by opening a valve cf fitted in a pipe e.

What We claim and desire to secure by Letters Patent is 1. In a storagesystem for liquids, the combination of a storage reservoir for liquid, areceiver for an inert gas, a return-pipe sys tem between said liquidreservoir and gas receiver, whereby gas can be transferred to and fromsaid, gas receiver and said liquid reservoir without loss, a valve insaid pipesystemcontrolling the flow of liquid from said gas; receiver tosaid liquid reservoir, a gas-pump in said pipe-system adapted to pumpgas from said liquid reservoir to said gas receiver, an electric motorfor actuating said pump,'a controller responsive to changes of pressurei liquid reservoir, a switch o qiail l controller, said, switchbeioperated-"rt close the circuit of said inotor when the pres:(.

pressure of the atmosg suitably graduated and motor when the pressureexceeds a predetermined rarefaction in said liquid reservoir, and meansfor cutting said first controller oil from said liquid reservoir incircuit-closing position, whereby said pump may continue to work toproduce'a rarefaction in said liquid reservoir to an extent limited bythe responsiveness of said second controller, whereby liquid may bedrawn into said liquid receptacle through said filling pipe under asubstantially constant force.

2. In a storage system for liquids, the combination of a storagereservoir for liquid, a receiver for an inertgas, a return-pipe systembetween said liquid reservoir and gas receiver, whereby gas can betransferred to and from said gas receiver and said liquid reservoirwithout loss, a valve .in said pipesystem controlling the flow of liquidfrom said gas receiver to said liquid reservoir, a gas-pump in saidpipe-system adapted to pump gas from said liquid reservoir to said gasreceiver, an electric motor for actuating said pump, a controllerresponsive to changes of pressure in said liquid reservoir, a switchoperable by said controller, said switch being operated to close thecircuitof said motor when the pressure in said liquid reservoir risesabove atmospheric pressure, whereby said pump is operated to draw gasfrom said liquid reservoir into said gas receiver, and said switch beingoperated to open the circuit of'said mot-or when the pressure in saidliquid reservoir reaches atmospheric pressure, whereby a pressureapproximately equal to atmospheric pressure is maintained in said liquidreservoir, a filling pipe, a second switch and a second 'controlleroperating said switch, said second switch beingoperated by said secondcontroller to open the circuit of said motor whenthepressure exceeds apredetermined rarefaction in said liquid reservoir, and means forcutting said first controller off from said liquid reservoir incircuit-closing position, whereby said pump may continue to work toproduce a rarefaction in said .liquid reservoir to an extent limited bythe responsiveness of said second con-troller,

whereby liquid may be' drawn into said liquid receptacle through saidfilling pipe under a substantially constant force, and means forobturating said filling pipe when air enters the same.

3. In a storage system for liquids, the combination of a storagereservoir for liquid, a receiver fon an inert gas, a returnpipe systembetween said liquid reservoir and gas receiver, whereby gas can betransferred to and from said gas receiver and said liquid reservoirwithout loss, a valve in said pipe-system controlling the flow of liquidfrom said gas receiver to said liquid reservoir, a gas-pump in saidpipe-system adapted to pump gas from said liquid reservoir to said gasreceiver, an electric motor for actuating said pump, a controller resonsiv-e to changes of pressure in said liqui reservoir, a switchoperable by said controller, said switch being operated to close thecircuit of said motor when the pressure in said liquid reservoir risesabove atmospheric pressure, whereby said pump is operated to drawgas-from said liquid reservoir into said gas receiver, and said switchbeing operated to open the circuit of said motor when the pressure insaid liquid reservoir. reaches atmospheric pressure, whereby a pressureapproximately equal to atmospheric pressure is maintained in said liquidreservoir, a filling pipe, a second switch and a second controlleroperating said switch, said second switch being operated by said secondcontroller to open the circuit of said motor when the pressure exceeds apredetermined rare faction in saidliquid reservoir, and means forcutting said first controller 05 from said liquid reservoir incircuit-closing position, whereby said pump'may continue to work toproduce a rarefaction in said liquid reservoir to an extent limited bythe responsiveness of said second controller, whereby liquid may bedrawn into said liquid receptacle through said filling pipe under asubstantially constant force, and means for obturating said filling pipewhen air enters the same, said means comprising a valve and a floatadapted to be lifted by t e passage of liquid in said filling pipe tohold said valve i lifted position and to drop to allow said valve toclose when there is no liquid to sustain it. 1

In witness whereof, we have hereunto signed our names in the presence oftwo subscribing witnesses,

, JEAN FRANQlllS ROLLAND. PIERRE ANDRE PAUL MAUQLERE.

, Witnesses: I

HANSON G. Coxe, RENE! BARLY.

